Myanmar’s military-led government has announced a mass amnesty for thousands of prisoners, including a reduction in the sentence of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The move comes shortly after junta chief Min Aung Hlaing assumed the presidency earlier this month.
According to state-run MRTV, a total of 4,335 prisoners have been granted pardons or sentence reductions. Among them are 179 foreign nationals, who will be deported to their respective countries.
Former President Win Myint, detained since the 2021 military coup, has been granted amnesty under certain conditions, with the remainder of his sentence waived.
Meanwhile, Suu Kyi’s lawyer told Reuters that her prison term has been reduced by approximately four and a half years. The 80-year-old Nobel laureate is currently serving a 27-year sentence. However, it remains unclear whether she will be transferred from prison to house arrest.
In addition to individual pardons, the junta announced broader sentencing reforms. Death sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment, while life terms will be reduced to 40 years. Other prisoners will also receive partial sentence reductions.
Authorities said the clemency measures were taken on humanitarian grounds and in line with the country’s tradition of granting amnesties during national holidays. Myanmar typically announces such pardons during Independence Day in January and the traditional New Year in April.
The move is being closely watched by the international community, as it may signal—however limited—a shift in the military government’s approach toward political detainees following the 2021 coup.
